Is it really true that facelifts turn out worse if you've had laser treatment??

Question

I'm so upset. I've just learned that ANY form of heat therapy can damage underlying tissue, causing fibrosis and scarring. And this can compromise face lift results. I'm 51 and have great skin. But I've done SO many lasers over past 15 years -- titan (2 series), Pearl Laser (4x), Fraxel, several IPLs. My skin is good but lower face is starting to sag and at some point I will want a facelift. Am I still a candidate for a face lift? Is there any way to know how much scarring I have?

Raymond E. Lee, MD · Answer

I agree with the general consensus of the experts here.  There may have been some mis understanding.  Lasers before surgery is fine and lasers with a facelift surgery is fine as well as long as the surgeon knows what he is doing.  So you are fine for a lower facelift having done lasers in the past.  However, sometimes previous RF devices, smart laser, facetite, kybella, thermi tite can cause some fibrosis under the skin and can make facelifting more challenging.  Consult with experienced facelift surgeon for a definitive answer.

Ajaya Kashyap, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question . You can absolutely have a facelift especially for the lower face after laser treatments . You will need a detailed evaluation first.Please find an experienced Board certified Plastic surgeon who can examine you and help you with all your concerns. All the best!

Alejandro J. Quiroz, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. I never heard that somebody had problems with a patient because the patient had several sessions of lasers. I personally done many patients with history of several lasers is difficult for me to think that somebody can have a problem because they have lasers in the past.

Philip S. Schoenfeld, MD, FACS · Answer

You can relax!  Many patients who present to my office for face lift consultation have had laser treatments to their face to either try to tighten the facial skin or to improve the quality of their skin.  There is very little increased risk to the procedure secondary to prior laser surgery.  I tend to perform more deep plane face lifts or at least sub SMAS face lift procedures and do not create a large skin flap so the risk to the health of the skin is even less.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

I have performed many facelifts in patients who have had previous laser without problem. Where you may get into trouble is if you have both the facelift  and full face laser at the same time. Although many surgeons do this I believe it to be too much trauma for the skin to take at one time.

Sean Alemi, MD · Answer

I agree with the other surgeons who have commented on your question. There is frequently misinformation that can quickly lead to confusion! Prior laser treatments do not preclude you from having a facelift if you so desire. It is true that some of the minimally invasive treatments such as Thermi, Face Tite, etc can cause subcutaneous fibrosis. However, even this would not prevent you from having a facelift! It may make the lift more technically challenging for the surgeon, but as long as sufficient time has passed from those procedures, it is perfectly safe to proceed with surgery and would not be expected to compromise your facelift result. In fact, many patients have had some form of laser or energy treatment by the time they start thinking about having a facelift, so surgeons who regularly do facial rejuvenation procedures should be comfortable doing the procedure. Take your time to consult with multiple surgeons to get a sense for their comfort level and be sure to review plenty of before & after photographs. Best of luck!

Robert M. Tornambe, MD · Answer

ElizabethThere is so much misleading and incorrect information about cosmetic surgery on the Internet and it is so frustrating to both board-certified plastic surgeons and the public! Laser resurfacing treatment for fine lines and wrinkles has been proven to be an excellent option for early signs of aging. Plastic surgeons have been performing this procedure for years and sometimes even combining it with a facelift! Simply put, the laser applies a controlled burn to the very outer surface of the skin, allowing dead cells to slough and new healthy skin cells to reappear decreasing fine lines and wrinkles. Facelift is performed in the subcutaneous plane just below the skin, not affected by lasers. Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area for a full evaluation for your face lift. Good luck.

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

Facelifts are frequently performed after someone has previously had laser treatments.  Sometimes, these procedures are combined.  Lasers generally affect the surface of the skin and not the tissue that is deeper, which a facelift tightens.  I would not think that there would be any problem with you having a facelift in the future.

Gilbert Lee, MD · Answer

Thank you for your questions. It is common and safe to have a face and necklift after having had multiple laser treatments. If you are planning a facelift, just communicate with your surgeon about how long you should wait after your last laser treatment. Its best to be fully healed from a laser prior to surgery. Continuing with laser treatments after a facelift recovery is also fine and often times recommended. Hope this helps.

J. Joseph Danyo, MD · Answer

Laser treatments you mention do not significantly affect the underlying surgical zone of a facelift that would alter what the surgeon would do. If you had wounds, palpable scarring or other complications from these treatments that would be different.  The status of your skin at the time of surgery does affect the outcome of results.  If lasers made it better prior to surgery that's great.